Vincent Kompany insisted he would “not be defeated” by Burnley’s hugely damaging 4-1 home loss to Europa League-chasing Newcastle which pushed his side to the brink of relegation.
After Nottingham Forest won 3-1 at Sheffield United, Burnley are five points adrift of safety with only two games left to play after Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak punished the Clarets before Dara O’Shea’s late header.
Burnley came into the game on a run of only one defeat in eight, having given themselves real hope of pulling off a great escape but that was all but dismantled in one afternoon. Relegation could be confirmed next weekend against Tottenham before Forest visit on the final day.
The defeat was even more disappointing given Burnley’s recent form but all the familiar hallmarks of their season were on show as a strong start came to nothing and they were too easily picked off at the other end.
“I never (see a result like that coming),” Kompany said. “It wouldn’t be fun to be a manager if you were thinking this was something that could happen.
“I’m not beaten by it or defeated by it personally in terms of attitude. They’re a good side, they’ve got phenomenal attacking players, midfielders who are extremely comfortable on the ball and also extremely aggressive in other situations.
“In these types of games I’m conscious those moments like we had in the first 15 minutes, that’s when you need to seize a game like this. If it doesn’t happen you’re always exposed to a scenario like this.
“But I want to highlight that we never let this game die. The result was done, the score was done, but we kept going, we kept being threatening if we could. That’s all I could ask my players to do.”
Burnley had an early penalty shout when Lorenz Assignon went down under a challenge from Guimaraes.
“It was something that was definitely debatable because of how he gets hold of the shirt,” said Kompany. “But this game wasn’t a one-goal decider, it was three goals’ difference so I think I have to put everything back in place. We played against a better team.”
Newcastle’s win lifted Eddie Howe’s side to sixth place, at least until Manchester United travel to Crystal Palace on Monday, as they seek a Europa League place next season.
“I’ve said from a long time ago we were determined to give our all to finish as high as possible,” Howe said. “With 10 games to go we tried to reset our targets and since the international break we’ve seen a big improvement in our performances and we need to keep that going into the last three games.”
With England manager Gareth Southgate watching on, Wilson scored for a second game running, making his third appearance since returning from pectoral muscle injury which sidelined him for more than two months.
Wilson, 32, will head into the final year of his contract this summer and has been linked with a move away but Howe said he wanted the experienced striker – who he previously worked with at Bournemouth – to stay.
“Write him off at your peril,” he said. “He comes back time and time again, he’s a very motivated player. I’ve managed him for a long time now and mentality-wise, I wouldn’t swap him. He’s a monster.
“Of course I want him at the club next season and I’ll do everything to make that happen. Gareth will have seen him today and will make his own assessments, but he will have done himself no harm.”
Jack Grealish Man CityPep Guardiola has left Jack Grealish out of Man City's squad for their final day tilt against Fulham, fuelling speculation over the winger's future. Manchester United FC v Manchester City FC - Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?Grealish is scheduled for talks with the club this summer, but his omission from their crucial trip to Craven Cottage is the latest sign his future likely li...
Manchester United v Fulham - Emirates FA Cup Fifth RoundVictor Lindelof's time at Manchester United is drawing to a close as the Swedish international will leave once his contract expires.WHAT HAPPENED?Fabrizio Romano has reported that a final decision was made following a meeting this week between the club’s hierarchy and the player, marking the end of an eight-year stint at Old Trafford. D...
🔊 Can Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League for the second consecutive season? Their chances look promising, especially with Manchester United unfortunately becoming one of the main point donors in the Premier League. However, a win at Old Trafford won't be enough. They need one of the top three to drop points. Regardless, the visitors will be playing solely for the win, making the favorite...
🔊 Can Newcastle secure a top-five finish in the English Premier League? Currently sitting fourth, they are only ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa on goal difference. This makes a win at St. James' Park crucial for the Magpies. Everton might not be in contention for anything significant, but they remain a tricky opponent. We'll explore various scenarios to make an insightful prediction. Head-to-Head...
🔊 Will Manchester City secure a spot in the Champions League by the end of the Premier League season? A victory would guarantee it. However, under certain scenarios, a draw or even a loss might suffice. Fulham, stuck in mid-table, aren't contending for anything significant. With a lack of motivation, they appear as the underdogs in this clash at London's Craven Cottage. Nonetheless, we will explor...
🔊 Can Ipswich Town wrap up their stay in the English Premier League with a victory? They're up against West Ham, a team with a decent squad but plenty of on-field issues. This gives the "Tractor Boys" a chance to delight the crowd at Portman Road, even though they aren't the favorites. We'll explore various scenarios to make a well-founded prediction.Head-to-Head📊 The only head-to-head encounter b...
🔊 Will the final round of the English Premier League serve as a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield? These very teams will compete for the trophy in August. It's a familiar scenario for Liverpool, but not so for Crystal Palace, who will make their debut in such a match. However, both teams are unlikely to be looking that far ahead, as their lineups are bound to change. More likely, players fr...
🔊 How will Leicester look without their legend, Jamie Vardy? The team is likely to undergo some restructuring, but that's a challenge for next season when the Foxes will be competing in the Championship. Bournemouth, on the other hand, will remain in the Premier League, though their squad could see significant changes due to increased demand for their players. In this upcoming clash, neither team ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Enzo Maresca now The Arsenal of Italy When you see it… Arteta really thinks this. The difference The last time Man United won a European Trophy was when they played against… Andre Onana! James Maddison had a big night Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, FootballLaughss, PL__OOC...
Kyle Walker's decline led to him being cast aside by Pep Guardiola, before he joined AC Milan in January. Since then, it has been Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis that have operated at right-back, but Man City are keen for a specialist to be brought in during the summer. And they have now set their sights on one of the Premier League's brightest talents.Man City identify Tino Livramento as leading rig...
- 1 Man City withdraw and Liverpool could steal
- 2 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 3 Man City target right-back Tino Livramento
- 4 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Prediction 25 May 2025
- 5 Man United man makes stunning claim
- 6 Tottenham vs Manchester United Prediction 22 May 2025
- 7 Goodbye Jack Grealish?! Pep Guardiola axes Man City star from squad for crucial Fulham clash as transfer talk continues to swirl
- 8 Eberechi Eze is at it again as he helps Crystal Palace to victory against Wolves
- 9 Liverpool considering transfer swoop
- 10 Manchester United vs Aston Villa Prediction 25 May 2025